NEW GOLF R PRICING
REVEALED
With 256 horsepower, the Golf R is the most powerful
VW sports performance vehicle ever sold in the
U.S.—and Volkswagen’s new performance icon is now
available in two- and four-doors
• Well-equipped two-door model starts at $33,990
• Sunroof and Navigation models have MSRPs of
$35,490 (two-door) and $36,090 (four-door)
•
MSRP of
$39,675(CND) *Canadian model equipped with RS510
navigation system as standard equipment
• Six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive
standard
• Predicted fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 27 mpg
highway
• Bi-Xenon headlights and LED DRLs standard on all
models
• On-sale early 2012 as a 2012 model, in both two-
and four-door versions
Herndon, VA – Intelligent downsizing. That’s what
the new Golf R represents. The heir to the 2004 and
2008 Golf R32 models, the new R manages to have more
power, more performance, and consume less gasoline
than its illustrious iconic performance forebears.
And it offers all this for just $33,990, plus
destination, for the two-door Golf R model.
Whereas the R32 models used 3.2-liter VR6 engines,
the new Golf R is fitted with a high-output version
of the award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI®
engine. This engine makes 256 horsepower, six more
than the VR6 fitted into the 2008 R32. As well as
offering more power and performance, the Golf R is
also more economical, with manufacturer estimated
fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the
highway compared with EPA estimated mileage of 18
mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the
prior model.
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Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped
with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system:
the latest generation of this system can divert up
to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if
needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S will be
equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual
transmission. For the first time, the Golf R will be
available in two- and four-door guises as well as in
two trim levels: well-equipped Golf R and luxurious
Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation.
Exterior
The Golf R is a refined vehicle that’s marked by
clean, minimalist lines that are mixed with sharp,
intricate detailing. The style is sleek and
contemporary, yet timeless and elegant.
The changes made for the Golf R are subtle yet
striking, in keeping with the car’s mission of
providing sophisticated and understated performance.
Up front, there’s a new bumper that incorporates LED
daytime running lights and three large black air
intakes that help cool the engine. The radiator
grille is finished in gloss black and features an
“R” logo that sets the front of the car apart from
the rest of the Golf range. Unique Bi-Xenon
headlamps that are framed in black also have the
Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), whereby the
lights turn with the steering wheel, up to a maximum
of 15 degrees, to provide better visibility around
bends.
The car's streamlined profile continues toward the
rear, with a pair of subtly flared side skirts
running along the lower edge of the body. The new
18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels expose
gloss-black-painted brake calipers that incorporate
the “R” logo; the exterior mirrors also have a
gloss-black finish.
There’s further differentiation at the back of the
R, where a new rear bumper was needed to accommodate
the central twin pipes for the exhaust system,
similar to the tailpipes fitted on the original 2004
R32. The bumper also features a gloss-black
diffuser. The back end is highlighted by a slightly
larger tail spoiler than that of the GTI and a
subtle “R” badge. The R is available in five colors:
Rising Blue, Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray, Black,
and Tornado Red.
Interior
Just like the exterior, the interior has been
enhanced to make it even more purposeful and
demonstrate its role at the apex of the Golf range.
On opening the door, the driver and passenger will
note aluminum “R” kickplates on the sills, before
sliding into deep bucket seats. These are adorned
with an “R” logo on the head restraint and are
upholstered in supple leather.
The squared-off steering wheel is also swathed in
leather, with gloss-black-finished spokes that carry
through from the exterior design. Other R-specific
features include: blue pointers for the instruments;
the shifter knob with an “R” motif; aluminum trim
for the dashboard and doors; and aluminum pedals.
The Golf R comes extremely well equipped, even in
base form. Fully automatic dual-zone climate control
is standard, along with a multifunction steering
wheel, Premium VIII audio with eight speakers,
aux-in, a Media Device Interface with iPod®
connectivity, and Bluetooth®. The Golf R with
Sunroof and Navigation adds the RNS 315 touchscreen
navigation system; a 300-watt Dynaudio® sound
system; a sunroof; and Keyless Entry with
push-button start.
Just like the rest of the Golf range, the R is
practical and versatile. The high-lifting tailgate
provides easy ingress and egress to a load area that
offers 15.3 cubic feet of space. And with the
folding rear seat back split 60/40—and featuring a
pass-through—there's real flexibility for load
carrying.
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Engine and Transmission
The Golf R is fitted with the most powerful Golf
production engine ever seen in the U.S. The car uses
an updated version of the EA113 2.0-liter
turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, rather
than the EA888 engine used in the current GTI. Like
the EA888, the EA113 uses direct fuel injection and
double overhead camshafts with variable intake
timing. Because the Golf R develops more power and
torque than the GTI—256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft
compared with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft—a number of
changes have been made. The cylinder block is
reinforced, stronger connecting rods are fitted, and
a BorgWarner K04 turbocharger is used, boosting at
up to 17 psi. With manufacturer estimated fuel
economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on
the highway, this is the most fuel-efficient Golf R
model ever sold in the U.S.
The Golf R is offered with a slick shifting,
close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that
features a magnesium selector housing and cable
operation with very short lever movements. The
latest-generation 4Motion all-wheel drive is also
standard on the Golf R. This system uses a Haldex®
clutch pack that continuously varies the amount of
torque sent to the rear wheels, depending on whether
slippage is detected at the front. In normal
driving, the Golf R acts like a front-wheel-drive
machine, which has benefits for fuel economy.
However, if needed, up to 100 percent of the torque
can be directed to the rear wheels for traction on
more challenging surfaces.
Suspension
The Golf R has unique calibration for its
suspension, even compared with the GTI. At the
front, it uses a damper-strut layout with lower
control arms and a stiff, tubular anti-roll bar that
combine to help keep the front tires planted during
hard cornering, reducing body roll and heightening
steering feedback.
At the back, there’s a compact multilink independent
layout that features coil springs, telescopic
dampers, and an anti-roll bar. The four-link layout
features three lateral control arms—the spring
mounting, the track rod and upper control arm, and a
trailing link at each wheel. Suspension assemblies
are attached by way of a rear-axle subframe and, as
at the front, rubber and metal mountings that are
soft in torsion but stiff radially are used to help
ensure the anti-roll bar responds immediately and
suppresses body roll effectively.
The spring and damper units are located separately
on each side of the car at the rear, with the coil
spring bearing directly on the trailing link and the
damper attached to the wheel hub assembly. This
enables the suspension geometry on the compression
stroke to generate a toe steering effect that
maintains neutral behavior, or some slight
understeer, in all driving and load-carrying
situations. It also helps ensure excellent driving
stability on rough, uneven road surfaces. Stylish
18-inch-diameter aluminum-alloy wheels are shod with
225/40 all-season performance tires.
Steering and Brakes
The Golf R uses a third-generation
electro-mechanical power steering system that is
able to vary the feel of the steering to suit the
speed and driving situation. It is firm and direct
when driving at highway speeds, requiring less
effort at parking speeds. Other advantages of the
system include its mild self-centering action, and
its ability to help compensate for driving hazards
like crosswinds and steep road cambers. In the Golf
R, the steering ratio is quicker than the GTI’s for
an even sportier on-road feel.
The brakes were modified to cope with the Golf R’s
higher level of performance as compared to the GTI.
Golf R gets vented 13.6-inch-diameter front and
12.2-inch rear discs, up from the GTI’s
12.3-inch-diameter vented front and 10.7-inch solid
rear discs. Naturally, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are
standard, along with electronic brake pressure
distribution (EBS) and hydraulic brake assist (HBA).
The latest version of HBA is able to discern whether
the braking is “normal” or an emergency according to
the speed with which the pedal is depressed. In the
event of an emergency, HBA helps increase the brake
pressure and activates the ABS.
Safety and Security
The 2012 Golf R comes with an array of standard
safety features. For driving security, enhancements
include Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), and an Electronic
Differential Lock (EDL). A hill holder function
automatically applies the parking brake when the
vehicle comes to rest and the brake is depressed in
traffic, preventing the car from rolling backwards
or forwards. The brake is released once the driver
presses the accelerator pedal. This is especially
useful in slow traffic on long inclines.
Should the car be involved in a crash, the occupants
are protected by driver and passenger front and
front side thorax airbags together with Side Curtain
Protection® head airbags for front and rear
passengers. Volkswagen's advanced Intelligent Crash
Response System shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the
doors, and even switches on the hazard lights if the
car is involved in certain types of collisions.
Like all 2012 Volkswagen models, the Golf R is
covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance
Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for
the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three
years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Model Line-up
The base Golf R is a sophisticated and luxurious
performance car, with a high level of standard
equipment.
Golf R
Starting at $33,990, the two-door Golf R comes
equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights; dual-zone
Climatronic® air conditioning; cruise control;
leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel; power
windows with auto up/down function; leather seating
surfaces; 60/40-split folding rear seat with pass
through; aluminum pedals; a leather shifter knob and
brake lever; and Bluetooth® technology. The
eight-speaker sound system has an in-dash six-CD
changer, AM/FM/SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio, and
auxiliary input jack along with an iPod® adapter.
*Words & Photos courtesy of Volkswagen AG
